Tosca

Tosca

In this wonderful music by Puccini, the passion of two lovers is embedded, whose livesand hopes are destroyed by the political caprice and selfish lust of the brutal police chief Scarpia.

ACT I

Rome in the
year 1800. Republicans pinning their hopes on Napoleon are being subjected to a
rule of terror. One of their leaders, Angelotti, has managed to escape from the
Fort St. Angelo prison and seeks sanctuary in the church of Sant’ Andrea della
Valle. He hides in the Attavanti family chapel, the key of which has been left
for him by a pre-arranged plan. In the church the painter Mario Cavaradossi is
working on a painting of the Magdalena, using as his model (only without her
knowing it) a beautiful lady who comes to the church to pray. She is Marchesa
Attavanti, Angelotti’s sister.

Angelotti
comes out of his hiding place, confident that he can trust Cavaradossi. Nor is
he mistaken, for Cavaradossi gives him the basket of food which was brought for
himself and sends him back to his hiding place just as his beloved Floria Tosca
is heard coming into the church. She is immediately struck by his uneasiness
and notices that his painting of the Magdalena has an exact likeness of the
Marchesa Attavanti. She cannot restrain her jealousy, and it is all Cavaradossi
can do to persuade her that he is innocent, that her suspicions are unfounded,
and that it is she alone whom he loves. After Tosca has departed Cavaradossi
tells Angelotti he knows of a better hiding place for him, an empty well on his
property. Suddenly there is a canon shot from the Fort, a signal that
Angelotti’s escape has been discovered. It is high time he found a new hiding
place.

A service
is being held in the church. Suddenly Rome’s Chief of Police, Scarpia, comes
in. as soon as Angelotti’s escape was discovered Scarpia felt instinctively
that the Attavanti chapel should be the first place for him to look in, and
sure enough he finds the empty food basket Cavaradossi had given Angelotti, and
the Marchesa’s fan. He immediately realizes that the latter is far more than
just a clue: his knowledge of human frailties tells him that it can be used to
inflame Tosca’s jealousy. And so it proves: Tosca once again doubts her lover’s
fidelity, and Scarpia is a step nearer possession of Tosca, whose love for
Cavaradossi makes her blind to all danger. While a solemn procession winds its
way into the church, Scarpia gloates over his imminent triumph.

ACT II

A rumor
that Napoleon has suffered a defeat leads to a great celebration at the Palazzo
Farnese, to which Tosca contributes a song. Scarpia can hear her voice from his
room in the Palazzo. He accordingly has Cavaradossi brought in. the basket and
fan do not succeed in making him talk, so Scarpia orders him to be dealt with
in the adjoining torture chamber.

Tosca
arrives just in time to see him being led away to the torture chamber. Scarpia
is well aware that mental torture in more effective than physical; Cavardossi’s
screams of agony are too much for Tosca and she gives away Angelotti’s hiding
place. And wen Cavaradossi is brought before Scarpia again, Scarpia allows
himself the pleasure of telling him what Tosca has done. But Cavaradossi’s
despair soon changes to triumph as news is handed to Scarpia of Napoleon’s
victory at Marengo. Now the end of the tyranny is surely in sight. Only
Cavaradossi will not live to see it, for he is to be shot for high treason.
Tosca now plays her last card to secure Cavaradossi’s release. Scarpia has told
her what the price is, and she says she is ready to pay it. To keep up the
pretence Scarpia orders a mock execution: Cavaradossi is to be brought on
blindfolded but the rifles will be loaded with blank ammunition. While Scarpia
is making out safe conducts for Tosca and Cavaradossi Tosca’s hand lights on a
knife, and just as Scarpia is about to claim his agreed reward she stabs him,
snatches the passes from his dying grasp, and makes off without being seen.

ACT III

Cavaradossi is to be shot on the Fort. St. Angelo. He is allowed to write a
farewell letter to Tosca, and as memories of her come flooding back, suddenly
she appears before him, tells him what has happened, shows him how he is to
behave at the mock execution, and assures him they are both safe. Cavaradossi
faces the firing squad with a smile, and with a smile Tosca sees him fall, just
as she had instructed him. As soon as the firing squad has gone, Tosca rushes
up to him…but he is dead. So Scarpia’s trickery has triumphed after all. Life
has no meaning for Tosca now, and as Scarpia’s underlings are heard coming up
to arrest her she throws herself from the roof of the Fort St. Angelo.